How does dew influence night matches in IPL?


IPL 2023 Winner

Dew is one of the most decisive invisible players in night matches of the IPL. While fans see big sixes and dropped catches, behind the scenes, a thin layer of moisture—dew—can dramatically shift the balance, especially in the second innings.

Let’s break down how dew impacts the game and why captains often fear or favor it.

💧 What is Dew in Cricket Terms?

Dew is moisture that settles on the ground and ball in the evening, especially in humid conditions. It usually starts forming after sunset, soaking the outfield and making the ball wet and slippery.

🔄 1. Bowling Becomes a Nightmare in the Second Innings

  • Ball gets wet and hard to grip, especially for spinners and wrist-bowlers.

  • Hard to bowl slower balls, yorkers, or maintain control.

  • Death-over specialists lose variation due to lack of grip.

✅ Result: Batters feast on loose deliveries and mistimed yorkers.

Example:

  • Bowlers like Chahal or Ashwin are far less effective with a dew-soaked ball unless they adjust their pace/style.

🎯 2. Batting Gets Easier Under Lights

  • Wet ball = less swing, less seam, and no grip for spin.

  • The ball skids onto the bat, making strokeplay easier.

  • Chasing sides often have a field day.

✅ Result: Teams chasing under heavy dew have a big edge.

Stat check:

  • In seasons like IPL 2021 (UAE leg), teams chasing under dew won over 60–65% of night games.

🧠 3. Toss Becomes Tactical Gold

  • Captains win the toss and bowl first—almost automatically.

  • Dew’s predictability makes chasing more desirable.

  • Even teams with weak bowling attacks choose to chase.

Example:

  • Dhoni, Rohit, or Hardik Pandya have frequently mentioned dew as a factor in toss decisions.

🧤 4. Fielding Errors Go Up

  • Outfield becomes slippery, making:

    • Sliding stops risky

    • Catches difficult to hold

    • Direct throws inaccurate (wet ball slips)

✅ Result: Misfields and dropped catches creep in, gifting runs in close chases.

🧪 5. How Teams Try to Counter Dew

  • Use towels and drying agents for the ball (every over)

  • Bowlers coat hands in sawdust or resin for grip

  • Bowl more pace-on deliveries or cross-seamers

  • Teams even adjust bowling order based on dew severity

Example:

  • In dew-heavy grounds like Wankhede or Chinnaswamy, spinners are often bowled out early.

🌍 6. Dew’s Impact Is Venue-Specific

Some stadiums are notorious for evening dew:

  • Wankhede (Mumbai)

  • Chinnaswamy (Bangalore)

  • ACA Stadium (Guwahati)

  • DY Patil Stadium (Navi Mumbai)

Dryer conditions (e.g., Ahmedabad, Mohali, or Jaipur) may not see much dew in early-season games.

📈 7. Rule Changes Considered?

Over the years, experts have debated:

  • Standardizing dew impact by starting earlier

  • Allowing extra drying equipment

  • Even allowing a second ball mid-innings

Nothing major has changed, but the Impact Player rule and deep batting now partially offset dew advantage.

🏁 Final Take:

Dew turns the IPL into a two-halves game:

  • One for bowlers (first innings)

  • One for batters (second innings)

Knowing how to play the dew game—through smart toss calls, balanced squads, and tight fielding—is often the difference between winning and watching the opposition lift the trophy.

Want to know which teams or bowlers perform best under dew pressure? I can break that down too!